What term describes the weight of the building's contents?

The term that accurately describes the weight of a building's contents is live load. Live load refers specifically to the movable weights that a structure must support during its use, which includes people, furniture, equipment, and any other movable items within the structure. This concept is critical in structural engineering and fire service operations because live loads can vary significantly based on usage and occupancy.

In contrast, dead load pertains to the weight of the building's permanent components, such as walls, roofs, and floors — elements that do not change over time. While foundation relates to the part of a structure that supports the load, it does not specifically address the weight of the contents. Free load is not a standard term used to describe loads in construction and may lead to confusion; the appropriate terms in structural contexts are typically dead load and live load.